Fire extinguisher



May'3, 1938. .Jl-P. MILLER ET AL FIRE EXTINGUISHER original Filed March 17, 1934 IN ENTORS M5 ML BY ATTORNEY;

. SSA N WQ Fig. l by any suitable means.

Patented May 3, 1938 UNTED S'EATES llitlt.

2,116,319 man ex'rruopisiiiin Jacob Preston Miller, New York, and Frank Delavan, Woodside, N. Y., assignors to Empire Fire Equipment Manufacturing Company, line.,

Long island City, N. Y., a corporation of New York l Claim.

Our invention relates to a new and improved portable re extinguisher.

One of the objects of our invention is to provdei a new and improved re extinguisher of the pressure or pump Voperated type.

Another object of our invention is to provide a device which can be `manufactured at lowcost and which can `berconveniently assembled.

Another object of our invention is to produce a device whichrshall be reliable in operation.

Another object of our invention `is to `provide an improved device having a casing and a movable pump piston, in which improved means are provided against sealing the casing from the outer atmosphere, when the device is in the closed position. l

Other objects of our invention will be set forth in the following description and drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment thereof, it being understood that the above statements of the objects of our invention is intended to generally explain the same without limiting it in any manner.

Fig. lis a diagrammatic cross-section of the improved device which embodies our invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail elevation of a collar which is used for supporting the breather washer a the rear end of the apparatus. Y i

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmental view showing certain of the essential parts. y

The device comprises a shell or casing 28 which is preferably made ofbrass or any other suitable metal. This casing 28 `is preferably drawn into shape. At its front end the shell 23 is provided with a nozzle 3l which is also preferably made of brass.

Thenozzle 3l is held in position by a collar Bla which may be forced into the position shown in After having been forced into its final position, the collar 3io: is held `in said final position by means of solder or the like, thus providing an air-tight closure The nozzle 3l is provided with anoutlet bore or opening Sib. A tube 39 also made of brass or other suitable metal has its front end fitting tightly into a recess which is provided in the rear end of the nozzle 3 i, and said parts can also be connected by solder or the like, in order to provide for an air-tight iit.

A pick-up casting 3B, made of suitable lead alloy, is located adjacent the rear end of the nozzle 3l, and the outlet tube 39 passes through a suitable bore which is provided in said pick-up casting 33. A packing washer 33, made ofV felt or other suitable packing material is located in a recess of the pick-up casting til, and said packing washer fits in a liquid-tight manner against the adjacent portion of the outlet tube 39.

A pump' chamber 29, made of brass or other suitable metal ts tightly within a recess which is provided in the rear end of the pick-up casting A drive or 4iorce t is used for holding the pick-up casting 3i) to the pump chamber or shell 29 so as to eliminate the necessity of usingsolder for assembling these two parts of the device.

`The pump shell 29 is provided with a front end wall 3l which compresses the washer 38 when the pump shell 29 is driven into the pick-up casting 3i), so that the washer 38 is compressed in order to provide the desired 'liquid-tight i'lt against the outlet tube 39.

The rear end ofthe outer shell 28 is closed by means of a cover I9 which is also made of brass or other suitable metalland the longitudinal flange of said cover i9 fits. tightly against the rear end of the outer shell 2li, and solder is utilized for providing a permanent and air-tight connection.

Adjacent the rear end of the device, a rear pick-up casting 23 is provided. The rear pick-up casting 23 is substantially similar tothe front pick-up casting 3U and said rear pick-up casting 23 is also made of a suitable lead alloy.

The pump shell 29 also has a drive rit in the rear pick-up casting 23 and a felt washer 25 is provided which corresponds to the felt washer 38. The rear end of the pump shell 29 has a lateral wall 24, which corresponds in function to the previously mentioned lateral wall 3l. The rear lateral wall 2t may be separate from the rear pick-up casting 33 so as to constitute a washer.

`The hollow-pump piston rod l2 is slidably mounted relative to the rear pick-up casting 23 and additional slide-bearing means are provided, as later described herein.

`The hollow piston rod l2 is also made of brass or other suitable metal. At its front end the hollow rod l2 is connected to a plunger 32.

As shown in Fig. l, the plunger 32 is provided with a pair of transverse bores B and Ba so that said plunger 32 is provided with four separated holes in its periphery.

A cap 35 is connected to the `front endof the.

plunger 32,` by means of suitable cooperating threading, and a packing washer 36, made of felt or other suitable material, is compressed by the cap 35 against the front end of the plunger 32,

so as to provide a liquid-tight t against the out-` let tube 39. Y

A piston tta, made of brass or other suitable metal, is slidably mounted upon the plunger '32.

As shown in Fig. 1, the plunger 32 has a shoulder 32a which can push the piston 34a towards the outlet nozzle 3l, when the hollow piston rod I2 is pushed inwardly. Upon the reverse stroke of the hollow piston rod I2, there is a limited free movement between the piston 34a and the plunger 32, until the rear end of the cap 35 abuts said piston 34a., whereupon the piston 34a moves outwardly in unison with the plunger 32. The piston 34a is provided with a plurality of packing rings 34, made of felt or other suitable material, which provide a liquid-tight fit against the interior wall of the pump casing 29.

'Ihe piston 34a does not make an air-tight or liquid-tight i'lt against the plunger 32, so that liquid can always pass between the adjacent surfaces of the plunger 32 and the piston 34a.

The pick-up castings 38 and 23, together with their associated parts, such as the pump shell 29, can turn freely around the axis of the outlet tube 39. Therefore the force of gravity always causes said pick-up castings to assume the position shown in Fig. 1.

Although the lateral face of the front pick-up casting 30 is shown as being closely adjacent the rear end of the nozzle 3I, these surfaces are either slightly separated from each other, or they only contact at a single point or annular surface, in order to permit the frictionless turning of said pick-up castings around the bearing which is provided by the outlet tube 39. The rear end of nozzle 3I may have an annular groove, in order to provide an annular shoulder for contacting with pick-up casting 30, so as to permit easy turning of said pick-up casting.

The felt washers 38 and 25 absorb a certain amount of the fire-extinguishing liquid (such as carbon tetrachloride) which is placed within the outer shell 28, because the lateral walls 31 and 24 of the pump shell 29, do not make a liquidtight t against the outlet tube 39. However said washers 38 and 25 prevent the leakage of liquid. The absorption of the liquid by said washers 38 and 25 minimizes their lriction against the outlet tube 39, in order to facilitate the easy turning of the pick-up castings.

A latch I3 is integral with, or is suitably con nected to a bushing member I4, whose rear end projects through the cover I9.

A collar I5 serves to assemble the member I3 with the cover I9. If desired, the members I9, I3 and I4 can be made of one integral piece, by means of drop-forging. This will eliminate the necessity of the collar I5.

A felt washer I6 is located between the rear end of the bushing member I4, and the hollow piston rod I 2. A second washer I1, made of suitable lead alloy or other metal, is located between the inner end of the bushing member I4 and the hollow piston rod I2. A breather collar I8, made of brass or other suitablevmetal, is located between the felt washer I6, and the metal washer Whenever we specify the use of a felt washer or packing member, we wish to include any other material which can permit air to leak through, while preventing the leakage of liquid.

We prefer to use a material which can absorb liquid while preventing its leakage and while permitting the leakage of air, but the invention is not necessarily limited to the use of a material,

which can absorb liquid, while permitting the leakage of air.

As shown in Fig. 2, the breather washer, I8 is provided With separated teeth I8a, and grooves I8b.

As shown in Fig. l, the bushing member I4 is provided with a pair of transverse openings O.

The bushing member I4 is assembled with its washers, by means of a metal washer 22, made of brass or other suitable metal, which abuts the rear lateral Awall 2I of the rear pick-up casting 23.

The front and rear pick-up castings 30 and 23, are provided with inlet ports 5I, which register with holes 5Ia which are provided in the pump shell 29. Said inlet ports 5I are controlled by gravity valves 50 which are preferably of the ball type. The inlet ends of the pick-up castings are connected by means of a longitudinal tube 48 which is preferably made of brass or other suitable metal.

'I'he connecting tube 4E) has a drive fit in the recessed portions of said pick-up castings. The pick-up castings 30 and 23 are provided with inlet openings 4Ia. Near said bottom inlet openings 4Ia, said inlet castings are provided with end closures 26. Gravity valves 21 of any suitable type, which are preferably ball valves, are provided in order to close communication between said inlet openings 4Ia and said pick-up castings.

In the position shown in Fig. 1, the lefthand ball valve 21 is in the closing position so that the rear pick-up casting 23 cannot pick up any liquid.

Fig. 1 illustrates the right-hand valve 21 in the open position, so that the front pick-up casting 30 can take up the re extinguishing liquid. A slide rod 4I is provided between the ball valves 21, so that when one of said valves is in the closing position, the other said valve is in the open position.

Fig. l shows a large clearance between the slide rod 4I and the inner wall of the connecting tube 40. This permits the liquid to pass through tube 40, when the device is held vertical, with the outlet nozzle held downwards. Any suitable bearing can be provided for holding the slide rod 4I parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube 40.

The operating head I is connected to the hollow piston rod I2 by means of suitable cooperating screw threading, and the connection can be made permanent either by solder or by means of a drive pin II. At its front end, the head I is provided with a recess, in which a helical spring 1 is provided.

An extensible or bellows member 8 is provided, and this is made of brass or any other suitable metal. At its rear end the bellows member 8 is connected to the adjacent part of piston rod I2, by soldering or the like. At its front end the bellows member 8 is connected to a cup-shaped member 9 which is made of brass or other suitable metal.

'I'his construction provides a relative longitudinal movement between the head I and the member 9, while the bellows member 8 makes a liquid-tight contact at its rear end with the exterior wall of the hollow piston rod I2, thus preventing any leakage of liquid. Likewise, the thread which connect the head I to piston-rod I2, prevent any leakage of liquid, and the head I and rod I2 are provided with shoulders, which make a liquid-tight contact.

The cup-shaped member 9 is provided with a stopper I0, which is made of cork or other suitable material.

When it is `desired to lock the apparatus the head l is pushed to the right of the position which is illustrated in Fig. l, until the stopper` lll is forced against the outer sharp edge of the bushing member lll, thus providing a liquid-tight and air-tight closure at this point.

As shown in Fig. l, the outer end wall oi the bushing member ld is of frusto-conical shape, in order to provide said sharp edge. In thisposition, the shoulder la of the head i can be pushed into the opening of the latch member i3, and the head member l can then be turned in unison with the hollow piston rod l2', so `that said shoulder lg, is then looked by the flange of the latch member ln said closed po-sition `the spring 'l presses the stopper lll against the outer sharp edge of the bushing member lli. This pressure is sufficient to cause the material of the stopper member le to enter the frusto-conical recess which is provided in the outerend of the bushing member ifi, thus providing a very tight closure.

In the position illustrated in Fig. l, the spring 'l lightly abuts the cup-shaped member 9, so that the bellows member 3 is not extended.

At `its rear end, the interior of the hollow piston l2 is provided with a centering-guide E which is made of brass and which is provided with a frustoeconical interior opening. Said centeringguide li is connected to the interior of the hollow piston l2 by means of a drive t or solder or the like.

The interior of the head or handle l is also provided with a bushing lia, which is made of any" suitable metal such as brass. A helical spring 4 is located `in said bushing da and said spring t operates against a plunger 2, whose inner end is cup-shaped, said cup-shaped end being provided with a stopper 5 which is made of cork or other suitable material.

When the device is closed, the outer end of the outlet tube 39 passes through the guide member t, so that this outer end is guided against the stopper 5. 'Ihe springt is then compressed so that the stopper 5 produces a liquid-tight and airtight closure at the rear end of the outlet tube 39.

rI'he operation of our device is as follows:-- The mounting of the pick-up castings which has been previously specified, causes the bottom inlet ports lla of said castings to always assume the bottom position which is shown in Fig. l.

Since the longitudinal axis of the device is not held perfectly horizontal under normal working conditions, the ball valves 2 roll in one direction or the other so that one of said ball valves 2? shuts ofi communication between one of the pick-up castings and the fire extinguishing liquid, and the other ball valve 2l opens communication between the piokup casting andthe nre extinguishing liquid which is in the interior of the outer shell 253. In the position shown in Fig. l, the piston 34o, is in an intermediate position so that the handle I can be operated to move the hollow' piston rod l2 in either direction. When the device is closed, the cap 35 is close to the inner lateral wall 31.

Assuming that the handle l is moved to the left of the position shown in Fig. l, the piston dita remains stationary until the cap 35 abuts said piston Sila whereupon said piston Sta is moved to the left, until the hollow piston rod l2 has completed its stroke. In this position the left-hand end of the plunger t2 is close to the lateral wall 24.

As the piston 34a is moved to the left of the position shown in Fig. l, the iire extinguishing liquid issucked into the pump shell .'29, through the right-hand opening Ela. While the piston @da is being moved to the left o1" the position show-n in Fig. l, it exerts pressure upon the liquid which is located between the lateral wall 2li and thepiston lla. l

During this stroke said piston 35a clears the openings which are formed bythe bore B, so that the liquid can pass through said openings into the space between the hollow piston rod l2 and the outlettube 39, so that the liquid can pass through said tube and out through the outlet 3 ib.

During the return stroke of the hollow piston 311m, when it is moved to the right, said piston substantially covers the holes which are formed by the bore B and it exposes the holes which are formed by the bore En. The liquid which is then at the right of the piston passes through said holes which are formed by the bore Ba, it then passes between said members l2 and 39, then into tube and out through the bore Sib. During this period, liquid is free to pass through the tube dil, and the suction at the left of the piston 3fm raisesthe rear ball valve 5i] so that the liquid is sucked into the pump casing 29.

When it is desired to refill the outer casing 2S, the plug 2i! can be removed.

While the device is being operated, it is necessary to admit air into the casing 28, in order to compensate for the loss of liquid, as otherwise the device Vwill become air-bound. Air can leak through the felt washer i6, through grooves Ib of the breather collar l and through the holes O of bushing ld.

If any liquid leaks through the felt washer 25, said liquid can movetransversely through the radial grooves G which are formed in the rear wall of the rear pick-up casting 23, so that said liquid passes back into the shell 23. If there is any tendency for liquid to leak bythe metal washer 22, this is prevented by means of the felt washer it.

Since there is not a liquid-tight nt between the adjacent lateral walls of the .nozZle'Sl and of the front pick-up casting 39, any liquid which leaks through the washer 38 is moved transversely back into the outer casing 23 sincethere is a liquidtight fit between the nozzle 3i and the front end of the outlet tube 39.

The closure which is provided by means of the Stoppers Hl and 5, lprevents any evaporation of the rire extinguishing liquid when the device is closed.

The use of the bellows member 8 is particularly advantageous in preventing the evaporation or escape of liquid from the device when it is closed, because the outer end of said bellows member 8 is soldered or otherwise secured in a liquidtight and air-tight manner to the hollow piston rod I2. Hence, if any liquid leaks past the stopper lil, or if any vapor leaks past the stopper I0, along the outer wall of the hollow piston l 2, said vapor or liquid cannot continue to leak out of the apparatus, because it is confined within the bellows member 8.

If desired, the washers 38 and 25 could be suiciently compressed, or made of suitable material, in order to prevent the leakage oi? air as well as the leakage of liquid. The felt washer i6 is not compressed to such an extent as to prevent the free leakage of air through said Washer into casing 28. This leakage is sufliciently rapid to prevent air-binding, even if the pump is` operated rapidly.

When the device is closed, the spring 'I is compressed, so as to Vforce the stopper I0 into the open end of bushing member I4 and against the adjacent part of piston rod I2, thus providing the desired liquid-tight and air-tight closure.

We can use any well known re extinguishing liquid in the device, such as carbon tetrachloride.

For convenience, in dening the invention, the term breather may be applied to a device or member which permits the entrance of air into the casing.

While we prefer to use a separate spring "I, for exerting the desired pressure upon the stopper member I, in order to relieve the bellows member 8 from acting as a spring, the use of said spring 1 is not always necessary.

While we have shown a conventional type of double-acting pump, the invention is not to be limited to any particular kind of pump, either double-action or single action.

When the piston rod I2 is pushed inwardly, or to the right of the position shown in Fig. 1, it

can be moved for substantially its full stroke before the member I0 contacts with the adjacent open end of the bushing member I4.

We have shown a preferred embodiment of our invention, but it is clear that numerous changes and omissions can be made without departing from its spirit.

We claim:

In a pump type re extinguisher which has a casing and a bushing located in an end Wall of said casing and which has a reciprocating plunger movably mounted in said bushing, a stopper member mounted on said plunger and movable relative to said plunger, said stopper member being shaped and adapted to close the outer end of said bushing, said stopper member being movably connected to said plunger in a liquid-tight and airtight manner by a metal bellows member.

JACOB PRESTON MILLER. FRANK DELAVAN. 

